The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest, is recruiting one Botany Crew Member to support the study and review of proposed actions related to the Castle Fire, which burned 174,000 acres in portions of the Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Sequoia National Park. Associate will support GBI Resource Specialists in performing field surveys across the fire footprint, collecting data, and providing technical assistance to assess vegetation habitat for various species. Field work will consider federally listed species, candidate species, and those proposed for listing while assessing the ecosystems upon which they depend. This work is in furtherance of ESA goals that seek the best available scientific information to inform forest restoration planning.

Project Background:
The Castle Fire was ignited by lightning on August 19, 2020 and burned approximately 170,000 acres, including about 128,900 acres managed by the Sequoia National Forest, 79,420 acres of that outside of designated wilderness. About 13,900 acres were within the Giant Sequoia National Monument of the Sequoia National Forest, and 35% (9,800 acres) of the Monument’s 27,830 acres of giant sequoia groves burned, impacting 10 of 33 groves, and 6,000 acres (61%) burned at high intensity.  The Castle Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior and burned at high severity across many areas of the Western Divide and Kern River Ranger Districts. Therefore, many fire-killed and fire-weakened trees were left standing alongside roads within the burn area, creating dangerous conditions for travel throughout the forest, including to recreation and administrative sites. This position will participate in post-fire management activity following the removal of such hazard trees within the Sequoia National Forest.

Primary Responsibilities:
Duties may include (but are not limited to) obtaining and synthesizing the best available scientific information in the field to inform planning as post-fire activity may affect the following:

• Terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, and watersheds;
• Air, soil, and water resources and quality;
• System drivers, including dominant ecological processes, disturbance regimes, and stressors, such as natural succession, wildland fire, invasive species, and climate change;
• The ability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the plan area to adapt to change;
• Threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive species, as well as any other species of conservation concern that may be present in the plan area.

Camping may be required as a part of this position. During the work week camping will occur at established sites within the Sequoia National Forest. The field work schedule is Monday-Thursday, 10 hours/day, 40 hours/week, and will tentatively run from May through October. Some weekend work or irregular hours may be required.​

Qualifications: 

• Applicant should have a B.S. degree in plant ecology, plant biology, botany, or other natural resource-related field, AND/OR demonstrate a history of relevant experience. The ability to read maps and use mapping/GIS software (ArcMap and AVENZA) under backcountry conditions is preferred. Field data collection experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated background in: 1) Plant ecology and habitat assessment, including evaluation and management practices; OR 2) Biology, zoology, botany, conservation biology, or closely related discipline. Experience recording, summarizing, analyzing, and synthesizing biological data.
• Must be highly self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• This position will work directly with the public, sister agencies, and various partners. Individuals must be knowledgeable, effective communicators, and promote positive interactions.
• Aptitude for or experience in the following are highly desired: LiDAR, aerial photos, field survey protocols and methods, GPS, and GIS.
• Must be reliable, able to follow directions, maintain a positive and professional attitude, dress appropriately for office and field work
• Tasks involve different and unrelated processes and methods.  The work requires familiarity and judgment in selecting appropriate alternatives from among a number of standard hydrologic principles, methods and practices, in order to solve relatively limited problems.
• High level of computer literacy, including MS Office, databases
• Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols;
• Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resources staff;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
• Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
• Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office setting;
• Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons;
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals and objectives of the USFS; and

Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.